Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

What you will need

• ✓ Apply through your host Ontario university's School / Faculty of Graduate Studies on their internal deadline
• ✓ Academic transcripts (undergraduate + master's-in-progress, all institutions)
• ✓ Two academic references
• ✓ Research statement / Plan of Study
• ✓ Supervisor endorsement (if applying with a supervisor secured)
• ✓ Proof of enrolment / admission to a participating Ontario university

About this award

The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) is the Government of Ontario's flagship merit-based graduate scholarship programme, jointly funded by the province and participating Ontario universities. The standard award value is $15,000 for two academic terms (8 months) of study, paid in equal instalments, with the provincial contribution matched by the host institution. OGS is open to graduate students at participating Ontario universities — typically including the U15 institutions (UofT, McMaster, Western, Queen's, Waterloo, Ottawa) and the broader Ontario university system. Critically, unlike the federal Tri-Agency awards, OGS is open to international students at most institutions, though each university administers its own quota of OGS slots split between Canadian/PR and international applicants. OGS is stackable with federal Tri-Agency awards in many cases — a student can hold a CGRS-M and an OGS in the same year if the institution permits — but holding rules vary by institution and by the level of the federal award, so check with your Faculty of Graduate Studies. Both master's and doctoral students qualify. The competition is institution-administered: each university's School or Faculty of Graduate Studies runs the internal application + ranking + selection process, then submits final allocations to the province.

Who qualifies

You qualify for OGS if you (1) are a graduate student (master's or doctoral) at a participating Ontario university, (2) hold a strong academic record (typically minimum A- average in your last two years of full-time study), and (3) meet the institution's specific quota and ranking criteria. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students may all apply, though international applicants compete in a separate institutional quota that varies by university — typically 10-25% of OGS slots are reserved for international students. Returning OGS holders may renew, subject to ongoing academic performance. Some universities have additional eligibility layers (faculty-specific quotas, citizenship priorities) on top of the provincial framework.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students
• ✓ Resident of Ontario

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's own page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

5. 5

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's own page will have it.

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